Utah State Football Accepts Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Bid

Aggies To Play In Bowl Game For First Time Since 1997 And Seventh Overall

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State Director of Athletics Scott Barnes and USU football Coach Gary Andersen announced on Monday that Utah State has accepted an invitation to play in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m. MST at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho.

The Bowl will also feature a top selection from the Mid-American Conference. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is the second game of the entire bowl calendar and the only one in its timeslot. The Bowl will be telecast nationally on ESPN and broadcast on ESPN Radio. Five of the previous seven Famous Idaho Potato Bowl games have been decided on the last drive, with an average score of 38-25 over the past 15 Bowls. Last season, Northern Illinois defeated Fresno State, 40-17.

Utah State is 7-1 overall against the MAC. USU hasn’t played a MAC opponent since 1995, when they beat Northern Illinois, 42-7, at Logan.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our program. It is a fantastic reward for all of the hard work and dedication that these kids have put in, from all the offseason workouts, to watching film to the practice field. I am so happy for them. Building a football program is a community event and this is a great day for Aggies young and old,” Andersen said. “We are excited to represent Utah State University, Logan, Utah and Cache Valley at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. I’m sure we will have a great crowd travel to Boise and Bronco Stadium will be decked with Aggie blue.”

USU became bowl eligible with the Aggies’ fourth-straight win and sixth overall on the season with a 21-17 victory against Nevada on Saturday, making USU bowl eligible for the first time since 1997. It was the Aggies’ sixth win of the season, earning their first six-win ledger since 1997.

“It is a great day to be an Aggie. Coach Andersen, his staff and student-athletes have continued to believe and I’m delighted that they have been rewarded for their efforts,” Barnes said. “Gary has built a strong foundation for our program that will only continue to improve. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is a great next step in the process.”

Utah State’s last bowl appearance was in 1997 against Cincinnati in the same venue, the formerly-named Humanitarian Bowl. Overall, this will be Utah State’s seventh bowl appearance in the program’s history. USU has been to six bowls, as the Aggies played in the 1946 Raisin Bowl, the 1947 Grape Bowl, the 1960 Sun Bowl, the 1961 Gotham Bowl, the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl and the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl.

“The WAC is proud to have Utah State represent the conference in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and I congratulate Coach Andersen and the Aggies on a great season. I look forward to rooting for the Aggies on Dec. 17 in Boise,” said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson.

Only seven other Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams have gone longer without a bowl appearance, including two within the last 25 years in Duke (1995) and Eastern Michigan (1987), while four others haven’t been to a bowl in over 25 years in Kent State, Louisiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State and Western Kentucky, and Louisiana-Monroe (formerly Northeastern Louisiana State) has never been to a bowl.

For more Aggie Football ticket information, fans can contact the USU Ticket Office at 1-888-USTATE-1 (1-888-878-2831) or 435-797-0305, in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

The Aggies will put their four-game win streak on the line when they take their 6-5 overall record and 4-2 WAC mark on the road to Las Cruces, N.M. on Saturday, Dec. 3, finishing out regular-season action against New Mexico State. The all-Aggie affair kicks off at 1:30 MT and will be televised on KCSG (Comcast Ch. 116/DirectTv Ch. 44/Dish Network Ch. 37).

USU will be going for its first seven-win season since 1993, and the navy Aggies will be going for their first five-game win streak since that same season, which is also the last time that Utah State won a bowl game, winning the Las Vegas Bowl, 42-33, over Ball State.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on the USU football blog at usufootball.wordpress.com. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

About the Bowl

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl recognizes the positive impact teams, coaches and student-athletes have in their communities and their leadership roles in promoting humanitarian efforts. Each year, the Bowl generates nearly $1 million in direct economic impact for the facilities and charities involved. For more information, visit www.famousidahopotatobowl.com.

About the Idaho Potato Commission

The Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is primarily responsible for expanding the markets for Idaho-grown potatoes through advertising, promotion and research. The Commission also protects the use of the “Idaho® potato” and “Grown in Idaho®” seals, which are federally registered Certification Marks that belong to the IPC. These Marks ensure that consumers are purchasing potatoes that have been grown in the state of Idaho. For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com.